What does מָהַר · לֵב mean in the Bible?
מָהַר · לֵב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "hasty, anxious, fearful of heart".
Hebrew · H4116, H3820
נִמְהֲרֵי־לֵב
Properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly · the heart ; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings , the will and even the intellect ; likewise for the centre of anything
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
מָהַרH4116properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly
Pronunciationmāhar
Metaphorically flows from physical liquidity to urgency; means both eager promptness and reckless haste.
Open lexicon entry →לֵבH3820the heart ; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings , the will and even the intellect ; likewise for the centre of anything
Pronunciationlev
The seat of will, intellect, and emotion—the inner moral and spiritual center governing all human motivation and choice.
Open lexicon entry →What does נִמְהֲרֵי־לֵב (nimhare lev) mean in the Bible?
מָהַר · לֵב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "hasty, anxious, fearful of heart".
Full entry for נִמְהֲרֵי־לֵב (H4116, H3820) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H4116, H3820?
H4116, H3820 is connected to 660 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. hasty, anxious, fearful of heart
Source Gloss
hasty, anxious, fearful of heart
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms29
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action26×
Sequential imperfect1Sam 9:12 · 2Chr 18:8 · Esth 6:10 · Gen 19:22 · 2Sam 15:14 · Esth 5:5 · Gen 45:9 · Judg 9:48 · Gen 18:69×
Perfect2Chr 24:5 · Isa 49:17 · Ps 106:13 · 1Sam 4:14 · Isa 51:14 · 1Sam 25:34 · Exod 2:18 · Gen 27:20 · Jer 48:169×
Imperfect2Sam 15:14 · Isa 5:19 · 2Chr 24:5 · Isa 32:4 · Nah 2:65×
Participle activeMal 3:5 · Prov 6:182×
JussiveEccl 5:11×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
Participle activeIsa 32:41×
PerfectJob 5:131×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
PerfectPs 16:41×
Word Origins
נִמְהֲרֵי־לֵב is a primitive root - no further derivation.